A former CAL FIRE SLO fire captain is facing sexual battery charges.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office says it received a report of sexual battery Dec. 9 and a follow-up investigation by its special victim’s unit resulted in the arrest Dec. 14 of James Peter Thomas, 56.
“Cal Fire administration was aware of the investigation and has cooperated fully with our efforts,” sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Cipolla told KSBY News.
Cipolla says the sheriff’s office’s investigation is complete and the report has been submitted to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office for review.
CAL FIRE SLO told KSBY, “We are not at liberty to discuss matters of an ongoing investigation,” directing inquiries to the sheriff’s office, but did say Thomas has retired and no longer works for CAL FIRE.
Thomas has a court date tentatively set for Jan. 14, jail records show.
He was not listed as being in custody as of Dec. 23.
Details on what led to the initial report and resulting arrest were not immediately available.
